Food Not Bombs group serving up meals, politics

BRYAN NOONANStaff Writer

Published Saturday, March 13, 2004

click photo to enlarge

J.D. Cook sits at a table in the Plaza that serves food to anyone who wants it on Wednesday March 10, 2004. Cook is a part of "Food not Bombs," an organization that serves food to hungry people while protesting against destruction of the earth through war.

By JUSTIN YURKANIN, Staff Wearing a T-shirt with the message "Democracy, We Deliver" near a photo of a fighter jet dropping bombs, J.D. Cook handed out free meals this week to downtown's homeless and hungry.

Cook is part of a local group called Food Not Bombs, which sets up at least four times a week to feed any passerby who might need lunch.

He said he believes the U.S. government is spending billions on bombs when it could spend a fraction of that money feeding the hungry and providing better social services.

"Anybody who wants to eat," is the motto of the group. "Anybody who's hungry."

Cook said volunteers come out Monday through Thursday and set up in the Plaza de la Constitucion. They feed an average of 20 people per day.

On Wednesday, 15 homeless people came by for a bite. But Cook said he's seen as many as 30 drop in.

"It's usually vegan or vegetarian meals," Cook said. "It's more of a political thing."

Food Not Bombs is part of a national organization, Citizens In Action.

Talking through a mouth full of pasta, Steve Thomas, 38, of Woodstock, N.Y., said the meal was delicious and thanked his hosts.

"They offered me a plate of food and I said, 'Yeah, sure.'"

Thomas said he was stopping by St. Augustine during a musical tour with his band and is planning to leave in the next couple of days.

"I think feeding people is a wonderful thing," Thomas said. "It's good karma."

St. Augustine Police Cpl. John Olsen said the authorities have not seen aggressive panhandling downtown or any influx of complaints from tourists or residents.

He said having a table set up in the plaza helps the homeless and hungry who might not want to go to St. Francis House, the city's emergency shelter for the homeless.

"They let their pride and dignity get in the way sometimes," Olsen said.

He added that the police department tips its hat to the men and women who bring out food to help the hungry.